Obsessive-compulsiveness in obese weight-loss patients and normal weight adults.

It recently has been suggested that obsessive-compulsive personality characteristics may predispose people to become obese. In addition, it has been suggested that dieting may increase the frequency of thoughts about food and its consumption. The present study compared a group of 50 obese weight-loss patients to 50 normal weight adults on personality-related O-C characteristics and food and eating-related cognitions. Results supported the notion that obese weight-loss patients tend to be obsessed with food. There was no evidence that traditional O-C personality measures are related to obesity. These results suggest that effortful inhibition of appetitive behaviors may have adverse cognitive consequences.